Rafael Nadal gives hints on his post-retirement career after bidding farewell to tennis in 2024
Rafael Nadal bid farewell to the tennis world after losing his singles match at the Davis Cup against the Netherlands.
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Rafael Nadal with his son (Via X)
Former World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has enjoyed one of the greatest careers in tennis history. The left-hander has won 22 Grand Slam titles, including an astonishing 14 Roland Garros titles.
As Nadal has now left the tennis world after last year’s Davis Cup, many rumors are circulating regarding the 38-year-old’s post-retirement activities. However, the tennis legend has stated that his plans after tennis will remain within the sporting world.
Just because you’re a great athlete doesn’t make you more than a regular person. I think some highly successful people lose perspective. I have been fortunate to have a close family and team that helped me avoid that. My life will continue to be linked to sports because it’s a fundamental part. I need a period of adjustment and organization.
Rafael Nadal said in an interview (H/T: Punto de Break)
Although Nadal has retired from tennis, he continues to inspire the sport through his renowned Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. This academy has produced some of the biggest talents on the ATP Tour, including Casper Ruud.
There are also rumors that Nadal could take up the presidential role at the well-known football club Real Madrid. The Spaniard has been a lifelong fan of the 15-time European champions and could potentially succeed Florentino Perez in the future.
Players to win Roland Garros during the Rafael Nadal era
Rafael Nadal is the most dominant player in French Open history. From 2005 to 2023, he won an incredible 14 titles at Roland Garros. No other player has achieved such success at any Grand Slam. However, the tournament will feel very different this year as Nadal retired in late 2024. With his absence, Carlos Alcaraz is now the favorite to carry on the tradition of Spanish players winning the French Open.
Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players ever, but clay was never his best surface. Nadal often stopped him at the French Open, defeating him in the finals of 2006, 2007, and 2008. In 2009, Federer finally won the title after Nadal lost early to Robin Soderling. He defeated Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-finals and then beat Soderling in the final to secure his only French Open trophy.
By 2015, Nadal was still dominant on clay, but cracks began to show. Novak Djokovic ended his winning streak in the quarter-finals that year. However, Djokovic did not win the title. Instead, Stan Wawrinka played an incredible match in the final, coming from behind to defeat Djokovic and win his second Grand Slam.
Djokovic had to wait until 2016 to win his first French Open, taking advantage of Nadal’s injury absence. His biggest triumph, though, came in 2021. That year, he defeated Nadal in the semi-finals and then came back from two sets down to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. In 2023, he won again, beating Casper Ruud to claim his third French Open title and cement his legacy.
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Fahad Hamid
(712 Articles Published)